Republicans agree to alter Issue 2 ads

Republicans have agreed to stop using certain phrases to describe the redistricting amendment on the November ballot after reaching a settlement in an Ohio Elections Commission complaint.

Jim Siegel, The Columbus Dispatch

Republicans have agreed to stop using certain phrases to describe the redistricting amendment on the November ballot after reaching a settlement in an Ohio Elections Commission complaint.

Voters First Ohio, the coalition pushing state Issue 2, filed a complaint arguing that a Republican Party mailer made a trio of false claims about the proposal, which seeks to create a new appointed citizens commission to draw legislative and congressional districts, rather than allow the majority political party to gerrymander the lines.

An Elections Commission panel two weeks ago found probable cause that one of the statements was false — that commission members would be chosen in secret. But rather than go forward with a full hearing yesterday, the two sides reached a settlement.

Under the agreement, neither the Republican Party nor Protect Your Vote Ohio, the Republican group formed to fight Issue 2, will state in campaign materials or television ads that some members of the new citizens commission will be chosen in secret. Also, the Republican Party will stop using the phrase “ blank check” in reference to funding of or spending by the commission.

In a separate lawsuit challenging GOP-drafted summary ballot language for Issue 2, the Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled: “The actual text of the proposed constitutional amendment does not state that the redistricting commission would have … a blank check for all funds as determined by the commission. Rather, the proposed constitutional amendment expressly limits appropriations for the commission to those ‘necessary to adequately fund the activities’ of the commission.”

“Our opponents have been forced to acknowledge that they were doing what politicians do when they are trying to protect their power,” said Sandy Theis, spokeswoman for Voters First.

Gov. John Kasich’s Office of Budget and Management said Issue 2 would cost the state between $11 million and $15 million over the next eight years. Voters First has called the estimate “comically high.”

A settlement also was reached in a complaint filed on behalf of U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson against Democrat Charlie Wilson, who said Johnson voted to kill Medicare. An Elections Commission panel had found probable cause that the statement was false, but the complaint was dismissed before the full hearing yesterday.

jsiegel@dispatch.com

@phrontpage

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